Tigers Grind Out A Hard Fought Win

The shorthanded Tigers started Saturday afternoon’s game without Cabrera or Iglesias, but things were just getting started in Saturday's marathon, four hour game. In the 3rd, Detroit Tigers center fielder Jacoby Jones would leave the game, after getting struck in the face, by a 90 mph fastball from Minnesota Twins reliever, Justin Haley.

It was time for payback in the 5th. Matt Boyd would be ejected after throwing a pitch behind Minnesota first baseman Miguel Sano. The benches cleared quickly. Tigers catcher McCann would intervene and Sano swung at McCann. However, play would quickly resume, with the ejection of both Boyd and Sano. Blaine Hardy relieved Boyd, and the Twins would tie up the game on a single from Grossman, 3-3.

The Tigers answered back with two runs of their own in the 6th, off a double from Castellanos and a sac-fly from McCann. Tiger relievers would shut down the Twins offense, allowing no hits in the 7th and 8th. Things would get interesting again in the ninth. A pinch hit, home run from Castro would pull the Twins within one. However, Francisco Rodriguez would hold on, striking out Mauer, and stranding a runner on first for the 5-4, Tigers victory.

Matt Boyd would give up 2 runs in 4 1/3 innings, with 5 hits, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. Both Castellanos and Upton would homer for the Tigers in the 3rd.